West Side

Parental talk needed to instill good values

Thursday April 18, 2013 11:58 AM

To the Editor:

I would like to ask all the parents of boys to have a talk with them about rape.

Start early, before their friends can instill a different set of values, because your silence can equal tacit approval. I think their friends probably start giggling over things like this between the ages of 12 and 14, so if you can have a serious talk before then, with follow-ups to let them know you're serious, I think it would be a big help. Maybe they'll even tell their friends, "That's not funny."

Please put it into their heads that girls are never asking for it, even if they wear something revealing, and especially not if they get drunk or otherwise lose their ability to say no.

The answer you're looking for, boys, is yes. If you don't get a yes, then hands off.